Vending-machine.



J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1911.

1,141,557. Patented June 1, 1915. i

4 SHEETSSHEET I- a W q N W" WI] 1! H I] I um-numrgug- I I 3 R Y Mum" IXd5 H W M". I

J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. 1911. 1,141,557, Patented June 1, 1915.

' .4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- .1. k 'lflm J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIEATION FILED NOV. 21. 19H.

1,141,557. PatentedJune 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- THE NORRIS PETERS 60., FHO'RJ-LITHO, WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. 19H. I 1,141,557. PatentedJune 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. C

I JOHN F. KBCMA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed November 27, 1911. Serial No. 662,673.

To all whom it may concern V Be it known that I, JOHN F. KRcMA, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Vending-Machines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbersofreference marked thereon, which form a part. of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in coin operated vendingmachines, of that class in which the operating or discharging mechanismis normally locked from movement, and in which the payment coin acts torelease the same to operative position.

. Vending machines as heretofore constructed, have usually consisted ofmany parts, so connected and combined as to render it difficult to keepthe machine in order, and the frequent failures of such machines tooperate tends to greatly lessen the patronage of the public and theconsequent revenue to be derived from such machines.

The object of this invention is to afford an exceedingly simpleconstruction adapted to operate very positively, and so constructed asto prevent efi'ectually the discharge of more than one-of the articlesor packages sold. 7

The invention also has for its object an ejecting means whereby thevended article is. mechanically and positively discharged from themachine, simultaneously positioning another of said articles preparatoryto discharge. 7

It is also an object of the invention to afford an improved lockingmechanism,

whereby operation of the machine. cannot be effected except throughcotiperation with a coin of the proper denomination.

It is a further object of the invention to afiord a construction inwhich unauthorized interference with the machine is prevented, and inwhich a plurality of compartments for the articles to-be dispensed areprovided, from which said articles are dispensed successively.

It is, of course, an object of the invention to greatly simplify,strengthen and increase durability and reliability of the machine.

A preferred form of the invention is hereinafter more fully described.

mentary section taken on line 10-10 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a viewin front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asection taken through the case only on line 22 of Fig. 1, and showingthe mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a section taken through thecase on line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the mechanism in rear elevation.Fig. 4 is a central section on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section online 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the front plate, and a faceview of the coin operated mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 8 is anenlarged rear elevation thereof. Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional detail illustrating the release of the locking mechanism bythe coin. Fig. 10 is a fragof Fig. 3, with parts omitted.

As shown in the drawings: The mechanism is contained within a caseconstructed of any suitable material and comprising a bottom 1,'a top 2,side Walls 3, and a removable front plate 4, the latter of which isconveniently of cast or stamped metal and is provided in its upper partwith an en larged opening. therethrough, in which is set, a glass plate5, permitting a View of the interior commodity compartments to beplainly seen by the would-be purchaser. Mounted upon the base or bottomof the case is a suitable base frame 6, having legs 7 and 8,afi'ording'a support and engagement therefor in the bottom of the case.Journaled transversely the machine on the end members of said frame, isa cam shaft 9, having as many throws thereon as there are verticalcompartments for the commodities to be dispensed (in the constructionshown in the drawings, there are four). Said frame, as shown, affords atits top a succession of slide recesses extending from front to rearthereof,and slidably engaged in each is a flat cam plate 10, the rearend of which is provided with an enlarged head 11, which is insertedthrough a suitable slot in a levered striking plate 12, securedintegrally to the upper end of which is a rearwardly directed plate 13.The lower end of the levered striking plate extends through suitableslots in said frame shown in Fig. 6, and said levered striking platesextend upwardly through an upper frame or table 14, supported on, andsecured to the frame 6, and provided with rear- 3;

wardly-openi'ng slots, one for-the headhof each of said levered strikingplates, as shown 7 in Fig. 5.

As shown, a shoulder 14* is provided at the upper end on each leveredstriking plate,

and at each side thereof, which slides on said table at each side theslot to hold said plate in operative positiom'and a strong pullingspring 15, is secured at the end. of theplate 13, and extends forwardlythrough a slot or opening in the levered striking plate 12, and isengaged to said table 14, toeXert tension at all times thereon, actingto draw the same forwardly when released.

Each of the sliding cam plates isprovided with an upstanding finger 16,thereon, and thethrows or projections on said shaft for V actuating thelevered striking plate rearwardly are arranged to successively engagesaid fingers in actuating the machine, that is to say, there beingfourcompartments and four levered striking plates for the machine to beactuated, the four throws =or projections a, a, a and a on the shaft arearrangedat ninety degrees apart thereon.

"Rigidly secured at its rear end .on the tableor frame before described,is an upright casing affording four vertical compartments, the frontwall of which is afforded by the glass inthe :front-wall of the.machine, and the bottom of which is afforded by the plates 13,integrally connected with;the lev'ered striking plates, as shown in Fig.4, or by thetable when the same are retracted, and, as shown, relativelyweak springdetents .17, are provided in front of 'each of saidcompartments and act to prevent ejection :of the article to be vendedtherefrom until positively impelled. by the striking plate as the macineis actuated Secured onone'end of the shaft 9 is a ratchet wheel .18,having four teeth or ratchets thereon arranged ninety degrees apart, orto correspond with the number of throws on said shaft (whatsoever thenumberl) and the numberof compartments for the articles to bevended.Said teeth are directed rearwardly.

Y -Pivot ally engaged on said frame 6, as

shown 1n Figs. .2 and 6, is a pawl 19, having a notched or ratchetedhead adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18,.t'o hold thesame from movement after each actuation thereof. 'As shown, a pullingsprin'g'20, is secured to said detent and to a suitable part of theframe and acts to hold said pawlat all times in engagement withtheratchet wheel. a

Said'front plate .4, at a point sufficiently above the table to permitthe ready discharge of the articles to be vended, extends outwardly anddownwardly, as indicated at 21, and is cut: awayat the bottom to permitthe articles vended, to .be withdrawn from beneath the same, and securedto and-extending upwardly substantiallyin the plane plate,*is a plate22, which extendsto'a sufficient-height to prevent unauthorizedinterference or manipulation with the'mechanism of' the machine by theinsertion of any instrument upwardly into the machine. Said front plateis provided near the side thereof, corresponding with the position ofsaid ratchet wheel 18, withv a coin; slot 23, and, as shown, with anelongated slot below the same through which protrudes. the lever 24, foractuating the machine. Slidably supported on the inner face of saidfrontplate 4, is a slide bar 25', with whichthe lever 24,

is rigidly connected and which is provided on its inner side withratchet-teeth 26, adapted to; be engagedby a pawl 27, pivotallysupported on said frame and controlled :by a spring 28, atall timestohold said pawl in position to engage-said ratchet bar at any position inthe movement of the slide bar, whether upwardly or downwardly, less thanof the upper portion' of the'front 1 frame the full limit of travelthereof. Integrally' secured on said slidebar onthe outer and inner s1dethereof respectively, are outstanding lugsi30 and 31. Pivotally engaged.near its upper end at 32 on the innerside of the lug 30, is a lever 32,flanged inwardly to aflord apart of the coin chuteyand at its lower orfree -end1provided with an -:out-

wardly directed finger or detent 33, adapted to engage in the teeth orratohets 34 and 35, on the inner side of the front plate,'and a pullingspring 36,.is engaged at thelower end of said lever 32,.and atitsupperendzis engaged on saidlug 30, and acts to hold the saidleveredchute section normally elevated withthe detent;33, thereon'inposition toengage the ratchet tooth or shoulder 35, should an attempt bemade to actuatethe slide bar 7 without the insertion of a coin. Asshown,

Any

ing rearwardlydirected parallel side walls V or plates 39and40, of brassor other non magnetic .metal, spaced a distance apart to permit a coininserted in the coin slot, to fall downwardly therebetweengand into thechannel :aflorded between the frontplate and the movable orlevere'dqcoin fchut'e section V 32. As shown, a small permanent magnet41, is secured in anin'clined position, as;

shown in Figs. 2 and 7, in position to be a push rodor pivoted lever 42,which extends into position to engage the successive ratchet teeththerebeneath to rotate said ratchet wheel and consequently the camshaft, with each full actuation of the slide bar 25. 7

As shown, a strong pulling spring 43, is

.engaged at the upper end thereof and to any convenient point on thefront plate or one of the walls, for example 39, of the station ary coinchute, and acts by its tension to hold said push bar at all times inposition to engage the ratchet teeth beneath the same, but permits thesame to swing sufficiently with the rotation of said ratchet wheel toinsure full actuation or rotation for ninety degrees of the cam shaft.

The inner face of the front plate 4 opposite the fiange 37 or lever 32is recessed angularly at 45 in such manner that the vertical face ofsaid recess lies substantially parallel with the face of said flange 37,so that upon the introduction of a coin or token of the proper sizetherebetween and a downward movement of the slide bar 25 carrying saidlever 32, said coin will roll on said angular wall of recess 45, andthus will force out said lever 32 on its pivot 32, for a purposehereinafter to be described. By reference to Fig. 9 it will be observedthat the lower projecting end of said recess 45 normally forms a stopfor the coin 38 so that the latter will be retained until it is rolledpast said end by the downward movement of the slide bar 25.

The operation is as follows: The magazines or vertical compartments arefilled with the commodities to be vended, for example, matches in boxesor other suitable receptacles or containers, which are stacked one uponanother to fill the respective compartments and resting upon the tableor upon the plates 13, integrally secured at the top of each of thelevered striking plates 12. If now a coin be inserted in the coin slot,it falls therefrom past the magnet, which is positioned to engage anyslug of magnetic material and divert the same from the chute. The coin,however, falls from the stationary chute into the levered chute sectionand into a pocket formed by the flange 37 on the lever and the recess 45on the frame or front plate, as shown in Fig. 9, and with the firstpreliminary downward movement of the lever 24, for actuating themachine, the coin rolls downwardly on the inclined wall of said pocket,and if the coin be of the proper denomination forces inwardly the lever32 and with it the detent 33, on the end thereof sufliciently to permitthe same to pass the tooth 35, thereby permitting free downward movementof the slide bar to the full limit of its travel. The coin now fallsfrom the chute and into any suitable receptacle therefor and at aboutthe moment that the coin is discharged, the push bar 42, which engagedthe forward upper tooth on the ratchet wheel at the beginning of thedownward movement of the slide bar, completes the rotation of theratchet wheel for ninety degrees or sufficient to release the previouslyretracted levered striking plate by the rotation of the cam shaft, andpermitting said striking plate to be projected violently forward underthe impulse of its spring, thus striking the package, box or receptacleof the article to be vended, from the table and into the discharge spacein front of the machine, from which it may be removed by the purchaser.Of course, the rotation of the ratchet wheel and consequent rotation ofthe cam shaft, retracts a succeeding striking plate preparatory to thenext delivery of an article from the machine with the delivery of thenext coin thereinto, and in this manner the articles are deliveredsuccessively from the various receptacles therefor until the entirecontents of the machine have been discharged as purchased. Should thepurchaser attempt to secure more than one article for a single coin, themachine immediately looks with the slightest reverse movement of theslide bar, the detent or pawl 27, engaging the ratchet tooth on theslide bar and acting to prevent the return movement thereof until thecompletion of the full travel and consequent release of one strikingplate. Should a coin of smaller size or a slug be inserted, even thoughbut very slightly smaller than the required coin, the machine locks byengagement of the finger 33, against the tooth 35, the coin or slugdropping to the bottom of the box when the actuating lever is released.

Of course, numerous details and modifications in the construction andoperation may be varied, but I have shown and described but one (andthat the preferred) form of my construction, and I therefore do notpurpose limiting myself otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention 1.jIn a device of the class described, a framerecessed angularly, a slidable bar thereon, a lever pivoted on said barand adapted, together with said frame, to form a coin slot, said recessacting normally to check the passage of a coin, means for actuating saidsliding bar causing the coin to roll in said angular recess and thrustsaid pivoted lever outwardly to permit passage of the coin, and means onsaid lever adapted to-engage said "frame to preventactuation of saidsliding bar without the coaction of a proper coin.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame recessed angularly, a"slidable bar thereon, a lever pivoted on said bar and adapted, togetherwith said frame, to form a coin slot, said recess acting normally tocheck the passage of a coin, .a flange on said lever forming a part ofsaid slot, means for actuating said sliding bar causing the coin to rollin said angular recess and thrust said pivoted lever outwardly to permitpassage'of the coin, a spring to hold said levernormally toward saidframe, and a tooth on said lever adapted to engage a notch in said frameto prevent actuation of said sliding bar Without the coaction of aproper coin.

8. In a device of the class described, an angularly recessed frame, aslidable bar action of a proper coin.

subscribing Witnesses.

thereon, a lever pivoted on saidbar adapted a coin in said slot, meansfor actuating said sliding bar causing the coin to roll'in said recessand thrust said pivoted lever out- 1 wardly to permit passage of thecoin,and a l tooth on saidflanged lever adapted to engage a notch insaid frame to prevent actuation ofv said sliding bar without the co- Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo JOHN F. KRCMA.

Witnesses: 1

' LAWRENCE 'REIBsTEIN,

CHAR ES W. HILLS, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,-by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

